The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-24
READING FOR THE DAY.
Sunday-School Lesson for May i, 1887.

Sunday-School Lesson for May /, 1887.
ISRAEL IN EGYPT-Exodus l. 6-14.
Golden Textile increased His people greatly, and
made them stronger than their enemies.-Pslam CIV,
With this lesson we open new book of the in
spired history called Exodus, the name being
given from the great central fact recorded at
length of the exodus or departure of the chill
dren of Israel from their bondage in Egypt.
While Joseph was alive this people enjoyed great
favor and many privileges. They creased
wonderfully in numbers and wealth, and after
many years their great power was made rea-
son for severe treatment that ended in making
of them nation of slaves. Jacob and his chill
dren undoubtedly brought with them into Egypt
many servants and herdsmen, and in the time
of their oppression they all, doubtless, mingled
as one people, only retaining tribal organizatl on
and their worship of the one God. and they
went forth as one nation.
There are two or three general subjects of
great interest to at this stage of their history
about which there has been much discussion,
and they better be considered here than later,
for the marked facts in this lesson SO few IN
number that we can better give these larger sub
jects time here than further
l. Their great numbers. 1t seems almost i'm
possible. at the first glance, that they could have
multiplied as to have GOO, 900 grown men (see
rion of 5000, 900. But considering the early age
of marriage, when only twelve or thirteen years
old. and the fact of polygamy, and It will be
that the sixty eight males OF Jacobs family
(Gen. xvl 20 many of them having several
wives. could easily grow to this large number
in 215 years. But t is extremely probable
that they were twice that time in the land of
Egypt.
here enter into any discussion of this great oues-
top. In Exodus xii, 40, it would seem that they
were actually as a people in Egypt 430 years.
and this is the conclusion of the large majority
of the most careful scholars. This would put
the date of the exodus 2l5 years later than
Usher does But there is very much independ-
ent history to SO locate it, and it is now gener
ally considered that the oppression eliminated
in the time of Rameses II, and the exodus &C.
Cured in the reign of his son, whose tomb is
strangely lacking in that OF the series of these
great Pharaohs. The chief difficulty in the way
of this solution is the fact that this date is
near that of building the Temple of Solomon
Il Kings vi, IL Hence Canon Cook and others
insist that the 430 years lin Egypt" are to COM
mence with the call of Abram. This theory has
more of difficulty than the other.
The Book of Exodus is ascribed to Moses
EXODUS xiv, A. and is so acknowledged by our
Lord Mark xii, 26; Luke Xxx 81, and IS sup
posed to have been written during the latter
part of the wanderings of Israel between Kadesh
and Nebo.
GENERAL OUTLINE.
l. A great loss. 6S.
2. A wonderful increase 7-I0.
3. bitter bondage, IA.
These three facts are, in Gods plan, the steps
by which they prepared to become separate
nation
SPECIAL APPLICATIONS.
]. The story of this cruel bondage is now
being. discerned in the long -concealed monuments
of lower Egypt, and they throw very much light
the Bible record.
2. Gods great purposes grow on and develop
well in times of adverity as in the times
of our prosperity.
g. We come too easily to rely on some Joseph
of wealth. numbers. power, privilege
and it very easily educates into weakness
God wisely removes 1t after a time.
4. Christians, even in oppression. are the
great builders Of national wealth and prosperity
s. We have to develop our Christian char
acter for the most part, amid scenes and sur
rounGings that are antagonlstic.
g. God has many ways to increase tho num-
bers of his people, and a united world cannot
prevent his purposes
GREAT APPLICATIONS FOR TEACHERS
L The bondage of sin is like that in Egypt
2 Gods strange permissive providences.
8 Helped by God when We do not see it.